Making a List, and Checking it Twice

How to apply to the programs and schools that matter the most to you.

A very exciting time of year is finally here! A time when you're able to apply to the programs and universities that you've always dreamt of pursuing and attending. By now, you may have visited some campuses that you wanted to see, or have plans to do so at upcoming open house events or tours. You've also likely been able to speak with your guidance counsellors or teachers, and have inquired about different career paths of interest to you.

Now, you get to make that exciting — if not slightly nerve-wracking — decision. For schools in Ontario, that means you will be applying through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). Once your guidance counsellor provides you with your unique PIN, you can log in to your account, and access the plethora of options available to you. Here, you'll rank your choices in order of preference, including both program and school preference.

Some schools take these rankings into consideration when reviewing your application, while others (including Brock) do not. At Brock, we proudly provide alternate offers of admission if we are unable to admit you into your first choice of program. You'll also notice that a number of programs have a 'co-op' option, which is a worthwhile experiential component to your education. With this, you'll receive a minimum of 12 months of work experience in any given co-op program at Brock, and you'll typically be paid to do so. It's the best way to gain practical experience as a student and have that experience reflected on your resumé.

Applying to Brock is simple, and you can find more information (including any supplementary materials required) by clicking here. Your academic record (typically grade 12 marks and some grade 11 marks if necessary) is important to applying to university, but any extra-curricular or volunteer experiences you've been a part of can help you excel when it comes to applying for awards, scholarships and bursaries.

In addition to automatic entry awards (based on your incoming average from high school), you have the chance to submit an application to hundreds of different awards and bursaries. We've simplified this process at Brock by offering the OneApp. You'll fill out a quick profile about yourself and can include any non-academic experience that you may have. Then, you will automatically be applied to any relevant awards and bursaries based on the information provided. It's a quick process and saves you from applying to different opportunities on an individual basis.

The process of applying to schools — and other things beyond — can feel like a time-consuming process, but it's important to ensure that you take your time and pay attention to even the smallest of details. Once that's complete, you can continue to work hard and wait for your offers of admission to roll in!